bent spindle? Or more?

Hey Taco guys and girls. I just need some advice and suggestions for a broken spindle, or what I believe is a broken spindle. I have read some of the other treads but could not find all the info I need.

I was out bombing around in the desert for New Years, came around a right hand corner going about 15-20 mph and whammm I hit a rock with my passager side front tire. I popped the tire, put on the spare and limped my way back to the highway, my buddy picked me up the next day.


The spare tire rubs a lot on the spindle and I definitely need an alignment but I can't really tell if the spindle is bent or if there any other unforeseen damages. I went to an alignment shop and they said the spindle was bent but I don't entirely trust the guy. There was a huge language barrier and he could not explain anything further than "it's bent".

I am going to try to fix this on my own, there's a great tutorial on the form but if anyone has suggestions on where to get parts, what could possibly be wrong, a good mechanic in the LA area etc please let me know. Thanks a bunch!

 

Compare the distance from the bulge of the tire to the spindle. Take a tire off the rear to use on the front to compare so you have the same tire size and wheel offset. If it's closer on the passenger side, the spindles bent. You may have other things bent too, but that's a place to start.

 

Nothing looks obvious to me... Im betting you knocked your alignment out of wack... maybe flattened your alignment cam tabs. (maybe thats what the tech was saying was bent?) At least get a second opinion from another shop before replacing it.

Edit: Didn't see your tire was rubbing spindle... im not sure if your camber could be so out of wack it could cause rubbing on the spindle.

 

I hit a center divider curb at about 30mph, 'head' on. The tire didn't blow, probably cause I had LT E rated tires. However, my truck developed a shimmy at certain speeds. Turned out the hit forced some bearings into the race. Nothing else needed replacing but I went ahead and also replaced the lower BJ. Toyota calls the 'spindle' a knuckle and they are pretty tough. With that kind of hit, I would replace the bearing and lower BJ (maybe upper also but my OEM BJs are still going strong), and check the LCA and knuckle for cracks, then take your truck to an alignment shop.

 

Thanks for the suggestions folks!! Took it to an alignment shop and that's all she needed!

 

Looks like your lower control arm is the problem to me

 

Can we get an update on this post? Might be in the same situation.

 

Looks like it was answered in Post # 5.

 

If the shop has the Hunter alignment machine have them also run the diagnostic angles SAI and the Included Angle. Should be free and could help tell you a lot.

 

ebay UCA is $30.
ebay LCA is $30.
ebay bearing is $50. It's due by now anyway. As are probably the tie rods.
really up to you if you want to spend more for quality versions.

All that leaves left is the spindle. How do you tell if it's bent? I don't know.
Sometimes people take out the old part and hold it next to a new/known good one to compare shape visually.

Besides that the cam tabs or brackets can deform.

Getting your hands on a spindle to compare to would be a challenge.

2001 Mercedes E320 spindle looks similar. W210 chassis. At a junkyard they're $50.
But with Toyota, even ones of a similar year, using a similar shape, and similar metal
when people list a part for sale and hear the word "Tacoma" in the name, they think it's Spanish for "Made Of Gold" and justifies asking higher prices.
Last guy I found used spindles who ruined his truck with a spindle lift, did not want to budge on price. He probably ended up throwing them away. Despite they were of little to no use to him or most other people.
People do the same thing with used 3rd gen UCA low mile takeoffs.
And step bars. Realistically, they're worth $0, $50, or $100. But people usually ask $300 or more.

I don't know what force is needed to damage a spindle or if it's even possible.
It is simply a pivot point that turns the mounted wheel via tie rod. The actual assembly holds to the frame via alignment brackets/ears and bolts. Which is probably where most of any impact force would be directed.

Street cars usually have an aluminum spindle. Maybe Toyota didn't even pick iron for strength. Maybe they just thought, "Well iron may be stronger, but mainly it's cheaper and we don't care about weight savings on a truck"

 

I side swiped a bridge about 6 years ago and was having issues with alignment on driver side. Then I found a junk yard with a spindle for 70 bucks bought it and put it on and got aligned haven’t had an issue since. I looked at both side by side and couldn’t tell a difference but it worked.

 

What what’s the issue ? I’m having the same problem ? Any fix? Please share

 

Had this happen to me this weekend. Definitely think a bent spindle.

 

What do y’all think?

 

The issue was the spindle, lower control arm and upper control arm all changed .

 

Job well done, sir.

BTW, what parts did you go with?
OEM or aftermarket?

I’ve had a very slight pull to the right for years.
And when I do ball joints, I might just do the whole control arms.
OEM is expensive.

 

My Truck had on rough country suspension lift so it was quite expensive getting back those parts.

 

@Myerwiener what ended up being the problem?